Gwyneth Paltrow Talks Painful Facials: "It's Like Being Smacked in the Face!"

You might associate getting a facial with a calming, luxurious day at the spa. But that's not the case for Gwyneth Paltrow.

The seemingly ageless 41-year-old attributes her flawless skin to a pretty painful routine. And while Gwyneth has never had any plastic surgery, she admits she's definitely experienced pain in the name of beauty.

The actress told Hello! magazine that she loves the effective but not-so-pleasant Thermage laser treatment. "It's non-invasive but it's quite painful, like having your face smacked with a rubber band that has an electric shock in it. But it works."

The Thermage treatment is also commonly known as the "face-ironing treatment." Yikes. Sound painful enough for you? But there's a reason why stars like Gwyneth keep coming back for more. The treatment boosts collagen levels in the skin's lower layers, creating a tightening effect to the top layer.

Gwyneth is also an vocal fan of Los Angeles-based celebrity facialist Sonya Dakar, who is known for her intense treatments. So now you know the secret to Gwyneth's enviable glow: She's got a really high pain threshold!